Page 69 of In Her Shadow

“Bitch, I killed my parents. What makes you think I won’t kill you, too?” She smirks back at me.

“I never said you wouldn’t.” I manage a smile at her, knowing that my plan has to change. We start walking back to the bed, and as we’re passing through the kitchen, I catch a glimpse of the knife that's still on the chopping board. At the very same time, I feel a sharp, heavy kick against my ribs. I can’t help thinking that it’s a sign. My little girl is reminding me that I need to fight for us, and so I decide to put all those years I spent in drama class to good use.

“Shit.” I clutch the side of my stomach and bend over.

“Eloise?” I hear the panic in her voice as she leans down to check I’m okay. “Eloise, was that a contraction? Is she coming?” I hear the excitement in her voice and realize that she really is bat shit, fucking crazy.

“I think so.” I hobble my way over to the basin unit and grip the edge, glancing to the side and seeing the knife just within my reach.

“It’s okay, just breathe through it. I know you're scared, but you have to stay calm through this. Stay calm for the baby and breathe.” She starts to stroke my back, and I start to breathe like the women in those videos Ren made me watch. I can’t see the gun, but I know it’s not pressing against my back anymore, and when I decide that it’s now or never, I swiftly reach for the handle of the knife, grip it tight in my hand, and spin around.

I don’t expect to feel it plunge into her flesh, and the look of betrayal she has on her face as she looks back up at me from where it’s stuck inside her, has me shaking my head and covering my mouth with my hands.

“You bitch!” She drops the gun and takes a few steps back, still looking at me with those wide, shocked eyes as she hits the back wall and slumps to the ground.

“I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to—It’s okay, we can get you help. I can call an ambulance.” I think fast, grabbing a kitchen towel and pressing it against the blood that’s seeping out around theknife. “I think we need to keep the blade in. I don’t know how much you’ll bleed if I take it out.” My hands are trembling so much, and I can’t decide what to do.

She nods back at me, still in shock.

“Have you got a cell phone? I need to call for help.” She shakes her head. “No phones,” she rasps as more colour drains from her face.

“Okay, then I’ll find a phone. I’ll get us help,” I promise her, struggling back up to my feet and looking around for the car keys.

“You won’t come back.” She laughs to herself as if she’s not in any pain.

“Katelyn, I swear to you I’m not gonna let you die. I have to leave for a little while to get us help, but I promise I’ll be back. I’m gonna come back, and we’re gonna get you all the help you need. We’re gonna find your little girl,” I tell her. “Don’t close your eyes.” I look at the door, wondering if I can somehow drag her out and put her in the car. If I could drive her straight to a hospital, she could get help much quicker. I head back toward her and try to shift her, but she’s a dead weight, and she screeches in pain. My hands are covered in her blood, and she’s getting paler by the second.

“Katelyn, I have to go. I promise I’m coming back. You just think of your little girl while I’m gone, okay? Think of how good it’s going to feel when you find her.” I race toward the door, hoping the keys will be in the ignition. Once outside, I see there's nothing surrounding us but trees and a huge lake, and I know I have to move fast.

I rush as quickly as my body will allow toward the car, opening the door, and after struggling to get myself behind the wheel, I realize that the keys aren’t in the ignition.

“Fuck. Fuck.Fuck!” I slam my hand hard against the steering wheel, sounding out the horn and feeling myself panic. I have totake a few seconds to breathe myself calm and come up with a new plan. The keys must be in the house, and just as I find the energy to get back out of the car, I hear the sound of a car engine and wonder if I’m hallucinating when I see Ren’s car driving down the track toward me.

“Ren,” I whisper, smiling to myself when I realize he’s found me. I don’t know how the hell he did it, but I should never have doubted him.

I use all the strength I have left to get out and run to him. He skids the car to a stop, gets out, and races toward me; I don’t give him a chance to speak. I kiss his mouth hard and squeeze him just to check he’s real.

“You found me.” I smile up at him. Giddy with relief

“You should know by now, Kitten, I’m always gonna find you.” He smiles back at me.

“I thought she was gonna kill me, she wanted the baby. She was going to take her once she was born.” I try to explain all I’ve learnt in however long I’ve been here.

“What?” Ren grabs hold of my arms and holds me back far enough to check me over. “Are you okay? Did she hurt you?”

“She drugged me. I was feeling a little weird, but I’m okay now, I promise.”

“And the baby?” His hand presses against my stomach.

“We’re both fine. But I had to do something to save us. I stabbed Katelyn. I didn’t even mean to. I guess I just wanted to shock her enough to drop the gun so I could get away. But it’s bad, Ren, she needs a doctor. She’s inside.” I gesture with my head back toward the cabin.

“Get in the car,” he orders me, suddenly looking furious.

“No, Ren, wait, you don’t understand. She’s ill. She went through something awful. We have to take her to the hospital.”

“Take her to the hospital? Are youfuckingcrazy? She drugged you, she brought you all the way out here. She was gonna take our baby!”

“Ren, please. If you knew what happened, you’d understand. Please don’t hurt her,” I beg him.

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